Their Lady Adyé [Star Wars]

Implications

As Cassian Andor, Bodhi Rook and Jyn Erso all nodded their solemn confirmation of what they'd just reported, Mon Mothma exchanged a look with both Bail and Draven, the only other two members of Alliance High Command present for the debriefing. Normally, it would've just been Draven, maybe even Mon herself sitting in on such follow-ups after a mission, but this was a special case. One that had her giving the order to send out a call for whomever could make it for an impromptu council meeting without even waiting for the debriefing to conclude.

What the two Rebels and the Imperial pilot had brought them had massive implications, not just for the Alliance, but for the entire the Galaxy.

The Death Star, it was called.

A planet killer.

"This is worse than we feared," Bail murmured next to her. Mon couldn't agree more, unable to do anything but nod. It was worse. Far worse. It was a development that could spell the end of the Rebellion and any hope left that peace could be restored to the Galaxy. On her other side, Draven looked far more grave than he usually did, the brazen General seeing almost subdued. If this was true? Mon could see the doubt flickering in Draven's eyes, but she felt no such thing. No, Andor, Rook and Erso had been completely serious in their report. They believed it. It wasn't mere rumour.

But despite his doubts, Draven didn't even try to voice them. It was a testament to how serious their situation was, rumour or no.

As was the fact that Mon didn't quite have the heart to admonish him for his rash decision to order an attack on the Eadu Research Base. That could wait. It had to wait. There was far too much else of more pressing urgency than addressing yet another instance of the General overstepping himself.

There was convincing the Alliance that the fight they had all feared, the outright War they'd all been hoping to avoid was in fact upon them all. As accomplished an orator as she was, and as skilled Mon knew she was at convincing others to her cause, whatever it may be, even she doubted she would be able to rally the other leaders within the Alliance in the face of this threat.

It was simply too monumental.

And they only had so much hope to spare these days.

Force, did she feel tired. Had her self-control been any weaker, her head might just have fallen to her hands with frustration and a sense of hopelessness she didn't want to admit was beginning to wear at her.

With a silent, impatient gesture, Draven dismissed Erso, Rook and Andor, slumping back into his seat as he did so. For a moment, Erso looked like she was about to object, her eyes filling with fire as she opened her mouth, but Cassian silenced her with a hand on her arm and a pointed look. Though she looked anything but happy about it, she seemed to accept the subtle nod of reassurance he gave her. With a final, cross glance to Mon, Bail and Draven alike, she strode from the room, their Imperial pilot friend following close behind.

Mon found herself watching the young woman right up until the door hissed shut behind her, and even then, her gaze grew unfocused rather than turning elsewhere. It had been a bit of a curious exchange, and it was obvious there was more Erso wanted to say. Yet she had deferred to Cassian's silent entreaty to let him handle whatever she still felt they needed to hear. Because there was still obviously more, else Cassian would've followed her and Rook from the room. She very nearly grinned at the conclusion to be drawn; they had grown to respect, maybe even trust one another over the course of their mission. It was a small little silver lining, but Mon had learned to take what brightness she could to bolster her own hope.

Out of the corner of her eye, Draven was only just barely holding back a full-fledged scowl that Cassian hadn't complied as well. The General seemed to be regaining his equilibrium after Andor's bombshell quickly enough, it seemed. Had Mon not had years of practice at maintaining a level of decorum despite whatever personal feelings she had, she would've been very tempted to roll her eyes at the man.